THE PEOPLE OF PENN STATE:
A PENN STATE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PODCAST

On each episode of The People of Penn State, you’ll hear Penn Staters talking about what they are passionate about, and you can expect to feel the pride and the power of the Penn State network. You can find the podcast episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcast app of choice. You can also check out the video version on YouTube. Subscribe and give us a rating on whatever platform you use. Ratings and reviews help others find these great stories. WE ARE!

Submit A Guest Idea

Know a Penn Stater who would make for a great guest for the show? Send us your suggestions! Be sure to include Full Name, Grad Year, Professional Title, a short background on the individual, and their contact information.

Please note: Submissions do not guarantee a podcast episode. The Alumni Association reserves all rights to determine whether the submitted guest idea is viable for a show. 

Shows

Date   Title Topic(s)
May 7, 2024 Jeannie Zappe '87  

People of Penn State Episode 60:
Swimming Across The English Channel With Jeannie Zappe '87

Athletics, Leadership, Public Speaker
April 22, 2024 Lieutenant Colonel Robert Michaels  

People of Penn State Episode 59:
Serving In The U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps With Lieutenant Colonel Robert Michaels

Service, Legacy, Leadership
April 8, 2024 Sarah Kernion '06  

People of Penn State Episode 58:
Autism and Neurodiversity Advocacy With Sarah Kernion '06

Community, Neurodiversity, Public Speaker
March 21, 2024 Rebecca Friese '93  

People of Penn State Episode 57:
Rebecca (Becky) Friese '93: Co-Founder and Managing Partner, FLYN

Change Management, Innovation, Workplace Culture
March 7, 2024 Jasmine Forsberg: Artist and Songwriter  

People of Penn State Episode 56:
Jasmine Forsberg: Artist and Songwriter

Music, Art, Legacy
February 29, 2024 Photojournalist Pat Little  

People of Penn State Episode 55:
Photojournalist Pat Little

Photography, Art, Legacy
February 22, 2024 Erin Stout  

People of Penn State Episode 54:
Journalist and Author Erin Strout

Author, Sports, Mental Health
February 15, 2024 Anessa Fike  

People of Penn State Episode 53:
Anessa Fike: CEO and Founder, Fike+Co

Innovative, Entrepreneurship, Talent Management
February 7, 2024 Lisa Lambert  

People of Penn State Episode 52:
Lisa Lambert: Chief Investment Officer, George Kaiser Family Foundation

Innovative, Disruption, Technology
January 18, 2024 Sam Coffey  

People of Penn State Episode 51:
Sam Coffey: Pro Soccer Player for the Portland Thorns and the U.S. Women's National Team

Athletics, Mental Health, Mindfulness
January 11, 2024 Antonella Crescimbeni  

People of Penn State Episode 50:
Antonella Crescimbeni: Video Shooter/Editor for the New York Rangers

Visual Arts, Entertainment, Social Media
December 18, 2023 The Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast: Peach Bowl Special

 
December 14, 2023   

People of Penn State Episode 49:
Brian Kappel: Creative Thinker, Design Director and Professional Tinkerer

Innovator, Visual Arts, Legacy
November 20, 2023 The Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Penn State All-Sports Museum / AAAOs

 
November 16, 2023   

People of Penn State Episode 48:
Joe Moskowitz: The Amazing Race, Season 35 Contestant

Entertainment, Real Estate, Community
November 14, 2023 The People of Penn State Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Hawaii Chapter President Angela White

 
November 7, 2023 Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Bob Ceh / John Black

 
November 2, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 47:
Char Morett-Curtiss: Chair, Teammates For Life

Field Hockey, Coaching, Women’s Athletics
October 31, 2023 Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Hunter Kelly / Baltimore Chapter President Hunter Davey

 
October 24, 2023 Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: College Football Writer Matt Fortuna and Letterman Johnathan Thomas

 
October 19, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 46:
Christina Parle, Co-founder & Team Lead, Social Responsibility Speaks

Service, Equity, Inclusion
October 17, 2023 Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Garrett Sickels and Jeff Hartings

 
October 12, 2023 Katie E. McPeak, M.D. 

People of Penn State Episode 45:
Katie E. McPeak, M.D.

Healthcare, Leadership, Humanitarian
October 10, 2023 Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Matt Zanellato / Florida Gulf Coast Chapter

 
September 26, 2023 Football Letter Podcast 

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Rudy Glocker / Greater Chicago Chapter

 
September 21, 2023 The People of Penn State: Caroline Bowman

People of Penn State Episode 44:
Caroline Bowman, Broadway and Theatre Actress

Musical Theatre, Arts, Entertainment
September 19, 2023  

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Brandon Bell / Houston Chapter

 
September 12, 2023  

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Nick Eury / Greater Pittsburgh Chapter

 
September 7, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 43:
Katie Taylor, Co-founder and CEO of Child Life On Call

Healthcare, Leadership, Service
September 5, 2023  

The Football Letter Podcast Special: Beaver Stadium PA Announcers Rodney Martin and Joe Putnam

 
August 29, 2023  

The Football Letter Podcast Special: OJ McDuffie / New York City Chapter

 
August 24, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 42:
Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, Pennsylvania Secretary of Education

Author, Education, Coaching
August 3, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 41:
Nick Gancitano: Private Coach and Meditation Instructor

Author, Mindfulness, Coaching
July 26, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 40:
Anand Ganjam: 83rd President of the Penn State Alumni Association

Student Experience, Leadership, Travel
June 28, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 39:
Hannah Mears: Sports Broadcaster and Producer

Sports, Entertainment, Media
June 22, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 38:
Joe Nadreau: Managing Director of Strategy and Innovation at Wells Fargo Advisors

Service, Empowerment, Innovation
June 7, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 37:
Jim Ivler: NFL Player Agent

Athletics, Service, Empowerment
May 25, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 36:
Dr. Ala Stanford: Founder of Black Doctors Consortium, Center for Health Equity, and R.E.A.L. Concierge Medicine

Pediatrics, Service, Trailblazer
May 4, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 35:
NIL Special with Michael Mauti: Letterman Founder of Lions Legacy Club

Athletics, Service, Leadership
May 4, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 34:
NIL Special with Kerry Small: Executive Director of Success With Honor

Athletics, Service, Leadership
April 19, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 33:
Captain Thomas Ulmer: Director for Operations and Exercise Director for the Tactical Training Group, Pacific

Service, Leadership, Humanitarian
March 30, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 32:
Dawn L. Manning: Executive in Charge of Production at Westbrook Media

Entertainment, Music, Production
March 15, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 31:
Dr. John N. Just: Chief Learning Officer at KnowBe4

Cybersecurity, Education, Empowerment
February 23, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 30:
Shadé Olasimbo: Producer, Editor, and Videographer

Media, Entrepreneurship, Empowerment
February 9, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 29:
Kolby Rush: Co-Founder of Saint Rocco’s Treats

Food, Entrepreneurship, Dogs
January 26, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 28:
Katie Kemmerer: Executive Project Manager for the Kansas City Chiefs

Empowerment, Marketing, Community
January 11, 2023  

People of Penn State Episode 27:
Maddy Pryor: Social Media Specialist, Princeton University

Social Media, THON, Community
November 16, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 26:
Brian Freedman: Wine, Spirits, Food and Travel Writer

Travel, Food, Author
October 27, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 25:
Bill Corcoran Jr., Host of the #OnTheStacks Podcast

Innovator, Marketing, Empowerment
October 5, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 24:
Tami Eagle Bowling, Creator, #LightUpMBC Live & Founder, The EAGLE Method

Advocacy, Empowerment, Marketing
September 7, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 23:
Albert Ko, M.D., President at Northern New Jersey Plastic Surgery

Education, Medicine, Career
July 28, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 22:
Sebastian Africano, Executive Director of Trees, Water & People

Development, Empowerment, Activism
July 14, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 21:
Wendy Pease, Owner and President of Rapport International

Wordsmith, Author, Marketing
June 30, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 20:
Jeff Ballou, Al Jazeera English Media Network Editor

Journalism, Media, International News
June 20, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 19:
We Are Weekend Special with Ben Feller

Author, Public Speaker, Leadership
June 2, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 18:
Katherine Pohlidal, Director of the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program

Mothers, Education, Empowerment
May 11, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 17:
Marc Kramer, President of Best Business Minds

Entrepreneurship, Technology, Development
April 13, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 16:
Brandon Carter, Artistic Director of the American Shakespeare Center

Theatre, Shakespeare, Activism
Mar. 16, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 15:
Attorney at Law and Author of "Just in the Nick of Time", David Savitz

Mental Health, Service, Education
Feb. 22, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 13:
Owner of Hoagies & Hops of Indianapolis, Kristina Mazza

Small Business, Food, Entertainment
Feb. 9, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 12:
CEO and Author of "Gameday In The USA" Marnie Schneider

Author, Athletics, Entertainment
Feb. 2, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 11:
The J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company

Musical Theatre, Arts, Entertainment
Jan. 26, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 10:
The Hope Gala

Service, Education
Jan. 13, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 9:
Educator Activist and Inspirational Speaker, Brian Anthony Davis

Education, Activism, Mentorship
Jan. 6, 2022  

People of Penn State Episode 8:
Retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Ryan K. Brown, Jr.

Service, Entrepreneurship, Leadership
Dec. 16, 2021  

People of Penn State Episode 7:
Mandy Marquardt

Athletics, Adversity, Leadership
Dec. 8, 2021  

People of Penn State Episode 6:
Mike Karns

Social Media, Volunteering, Broadway
Dec. 1, 2021  

People of Penn State Episode 5:
Paula Trimble

Career, Policy, Small Business
Nov. 17, 2021  

People of Penn State Episode 4:
John Amaechi OBE

Author, Public Speaker, Leadership
Nov. 10, 2021  

People of Penn State Episode 3:
Daniel Berlin '92

Accessibility, Athletics, Entrepreneurship
Nov. 2, 2021  

People of Penn State Episode 2:
US Air Force First Lieutenant, NFL Cheerleader and Entrepreneur, Haley McClain Hill '18

Air Force, Cheerleading, Leadership
Oct. 19, 2021  

People of Penn State Episode 1:
Paralympian and Volunteer Leader, Jake Schrom '11

Volunteering, Leadership, Athletics
Oct. 19, 2021   Introducing: The People of Penn State Podcast Introduction